Mexico City, March 20, 2014 – Jeh Johnson, Secretary of the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security (DHS), today signed an updated “Declaration of
Principles” agreement with Minister Luis Videgaray
Caso of the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit. “The Declaration of
Principles we signed today reaffirms the shared commitment of the United
States and Mexico to collaborate on security matters and to continue to
promote the economic growth and prosperity
essential to both of our nations,” said Secretary of Homeland Security
Jeh Johnson. “As we know, effective customs partnership is the linchpin
in our nations’ efforts in increasing security and economic prosperity.
This Declaration of Principles is built on
the doctrines of shared responsibility and joint border management
which underlie our engagement. And it recognizes that security and
facilitation are mutually reinforcing objectives.”

Under
the updated and enhanced agreement signed today, DHS and the Mexican
Ministry of Finance and Public Credit will continue to make progress on
existing objectives like developing a single
customs manifest that satisfies U.S. and Mexico’s customs requirements
for exports and imports, completing efforts to begin pre-inspection
programs that facilitate legitimate trade and increasing information
sharing to address trade and money laundering investigations.
The agreement will also identify new joint initiatives and long-term
programs to augment information-sharing mechanisms and coordinate border
management—improving the efficiency of border operations and
strengthening law enforcement cooperation.

Immediately
following the signing event, Secretary Johnson, Rand Beers, White House
Deputy and Assistant to the President for Homeland Security, and
Ambassador Wayne met with President Enrique
Pena Nieto where he emphasized the importance of a coordinated approach
to border management founded on the principle of co-responsibility.

On
Wednesday, Johnson met with SEGOB Minister Miguel Ángel Osorio Chong,
Attorney General Jesus Murillo Karam and Foreign Secretary Jose Antonio
Meade, where he reiterated his commitment
to working closely with the Government of Mexico to facilitate safer
and secure crossing of goods and people across the border. They also
discussed plans to mutually recognize each other’s trusted trader and
trusted traveler programs like Viajero Confiable
and Global Entry, which facilitate and expedite legitimate trade and
travel between our two countries.

This
is Secretary Johnson’s second visit to Mexico in the three months since
he was sworn in as the fourth Secretary for the Department of Homeland
Security. Johnson accompanied President
Obama to Toluca, Mexico for the North American Leader’s Summit in
February where President Obama, President Pena Nieto and Prime Minister
Harper agreed to leverage existing bilateral border mechanisms to
enhance the secure movement of goods across North America,
and promote trilateral exchanges on logistics corridors and regional
development.